The rain outside was soft but steady, tapping against the windows in a rhythm that usually made Raka feel relaxed. But today, the vibe inside the house was... weird.
He peeked from the kitchen doorway, sipping iced tea from a tall glass while watching Kirana move around the living room. Her brows were slightly furrowed, her lips pressed in a thin line, and she was pacing like something had just ticked her off.
Raka smirked. Time to be annoying, he thought.
He strolled in with a big grin. "Yo, Kak. You look like someone just stole your Wi-Fi."
Kirana shot him a sharp glare. "Raka, not now."
"Oof. That bad, huh?" He plopped onto the couch and stretched his legs. "Want me to play your favorite sad-girl playlist? Or should I go full clown mode and make you laugh?"
Kirana let out a breath, clearly trying to stay calm. "Please, just... not today, okay?"
"Come on, Kak. What happened? Don't tell me someone bullied you online. I'll drop a whole roast session in their DMs."
"No one bullied me." Her voice was flat. "And stop trying to be funny. You're not."
Raka blinked. Okay. That one stung a little.
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Alright, alright. I get it. You're not in the mood. But you're acting like I burned your thesis or something."
Kirana suddenly spun around. "Why do you always have to talk so much?! I just want peace and quiet for once!"
Raka sat back, stunned. Her voice had risen, sharp like the crack of thunder. She looked genuinely frustrated—more than he'd ever seen her.
And then it hit him.
"Oh," he muttered softly. "You're on your... you know."
Kirana froze, slowly turning her head with a death glare. "Finish that sentence and I will throw this cushion at your face."
Raka zipped his lips shut and nodded solemnly. "Got it."
Silence fell between them, thick with tension. Kirana crossed her arms and stared out the window. Raka just sat there awkwardly, feeling like a jerk.
A minute later, he stood up quietly and disappeared into the kitchen. Kirana didn't ask where he went.
Ten minutes passed.
Then came the soft sound of footsteps returning—and something cold brushing her arm.
She turned.
Raka stood there, sheepish, holding out a cup of mint chocolate chip ice cream with a spoon already tucked in.
"I remember you said this is your go-to comfort food," he mumbled. "Back when we first moved in together. Thought it might help."
Kirana stared at the cup for a second. Then she sighed, her shoulders slowly relaxing.
"You're such an annoying little gremlin," she muttered, but took the ice cream anyway.
"I take that as a thank you."
They sat side by side on the couch again, this time in silence, except for the sound of the spoon tapping the cup now and then.
Raka glanced sideways. "Still mad?"
Kirana rolled her eyes. "Still emotional."
"I mean, that's fair. You were kinda scary though."
"I warned you."
"Noted. I'll bring ice cream first next time before I say anything stupid."
"You always say something stupid," she said with a smirk.
"True," Raka laughed, raising both hands in surrender. "It's part of my charm."
Kirana shook her head, smiling for the first time that day. "Charm, huh?"
"Undeniable," he said proudly.
Kirana snorted, finished the last bite of her ice cream, and then reached over to gently pat his head.
"Dasar bocah."
Raka froze at her touch—not because it was unusual, but because it felt... kind. Her hand was warm, light, almost hesitant. Like she didn't want to admit she cared.
"I'm not a kid," Raka said, voice softer now.
Kirana retracted her hand slowly, but the smile lingered. "You act like one."
"Only around you," he replied.
Their eyes met for a brief moment, and just like that, the air changed again—warm, charged, complicated.
Then Kirana looked away. "Thanks for the ice cream."
"Anytime," Raka said, even though his heart was thumping way too fast for his own liking.
They stayed on the couch for a while longer, watching the rain blur the windows and listening to the muffled sound of TV in the background. No more arguments. No more teasing.
Just a quiet truce.